Dahlia plant named ‘Lisa Dark Pink’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘Lisa Dark Pink’, characterized by its large and numerous double inflorescences that are about 7.8 cm in diameter; dark pink ray florets; mostly upright, mounded and uniform growth habit; dark green leaves; and strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Lisa Dark Pink’.

The new Dahlia is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of theDahlia variabilis cultivar ‘Lisa’, not patented. The new Dahlia wasdiscovered by the Inventor in September, 1996 in a controlledenvironment in Hillegom, The Netherlands, within a population of plantsof ‘Lisa’. The selection of this plant was based on its unique rayfloret color.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia by terminal cuttings harvested inHillegom, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Dahlia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Dahlia has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Lisa Dark Pink’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Lisa Dark Pink’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Large and numerous double inflorescences that are about 7.8 cm indiameter.

2. Dark pink ray florets.

3. Mostly upright, mounded and uniform growth habit.

4. Dark green leaves.

5. Strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

Compared to plants of the parent cultivar, ‘Lisa’, plants of the newDahlia have dark pink ray florets whereas plants of the cultivar ‘Lisa’have light pink ray florets. In addition, ray floret color of plants ofthe new Dahlia does not fade with development, whereas ray floret colorof plants of the cultivar ‘Lisa’ fades significantly with development.Compared to plants of the cultivar ‘Lisa Burgundy’, disclosed in U.S.Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/233,133, in side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the newDahlia are not as freely-flowering and differ in ray floret color.Compared to plants of the cultivar ‘Lisa Pearl’, disclosed in U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 09/233,135, in side-by-side comparisonsconducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Dahlia arelarger, have larger leaves, and differ in ray floret color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of thenew Dahlia. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of the new Dahlia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in De Lier, The Netherlands, in12-cm containers in a glass greenhouse with average day and nighttemperatures of 22 and 18° C., respectively. Plants were about 8 to 10weeks old after planting.

Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘Lisa Dark Pink’.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant, mutation of Dahliavariabilis cultivar ‘Lisa’, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 5 days at 22° C. Winter: About 8days at 20° C.

Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 12 days at 22° C. Winter: About 16days at 20° C.

Rooting habit and root description.—Easily propagated; roots fine,fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.—Typically grown as potted flowering plants. Mostly upright,mounded and uniform growth habit; rounded plant apex. Moderate growthrate and moderately vigorous. Appropriate for 10 to 12.5-cm containers.Plants typically flower about 8 weeks after planting rooted cuttings.Freely basally branching, however, plants typically require pinching toenhance lateral branch development.

Plant height.—About 30 cm.

Plant spread.—About 32 cm.

Stem description.—Lateral branch diameter: About 1.1 cm. Internodelength: About 3.6 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 144A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Young foliage, leaves single; fullyexpanded foliage, leaves compound, trifoliate; opposite. Leaf length:About 17 cm. Leaf width: About 14 cm. Terminal leaflet length: About10.5 cm. Terminal leaflet width: About 6 cm. Leaflet shape: Ovate.Leaflet apex: Acute. Leaflet base: Attenuate. Leaflet margin: Dentate.Leaflet texture; Glabrous. Petiole length: About 6 cm. Color: Youngleaflets, upper surface: Greener than 147A. Young leaflets, lowersurface: 147B. Mature leaflets, upper surface: 147A. Mature leaflets,lower surface: Lighter than 147B. Petiole: 144A.

Flowering description:

Appearance.—Double inflorescence form. Inflorescences generallyhemispherical and borne on terminals above foliage, arising from leafaxils on strong peduncles; inflorescences above the foliage.Inflorescences face upright and outward. Freely flowering, typicallyabout 21 inflorescences per plant. Disc and ray florets arrangedacropetally on a capitulum. Not fragrant.

Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flowerintermittently from late spring through fall.

Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences typically maintain goodsubstance for about 1 to 2 weeks on the plant.

Flower bud (just before opening).—Shape: Flattened spherical. Length:About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm. Color: 143A to 144A.

Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.8 cm. Depth (height): About 2.5cm. Disc floret diameter: About 1 cm; conspicuous only on fully openedinflorescences.

Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescnece: About 72. Shape: Broadlyelliptic. Orientation: Initially upright to horizontal; cupped. Length:About 3.6 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm. Apex: Acute, emarginate, bifod ortrifid. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.Color: When opening, upper surface: White at base; 71A at apex. Whenopening, lower surface: 61A at base; 69A towards apex. Fully opened,upper surface: Apex, 72A to 72C becoming lighter pink, 75A to 75C,towards base and at margins. Fully opened, lower surface: Apex, 72A to72C becoming lighter pink, 75A to 75C, towards base and at margins.

Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 32. Shape: Tubular.Orientation: Upright. Length: About 1 cm. Width: Apex: About 3 mm. Base:About 1 mm. Apex: Dentafod. Color: Apex: 9A. Mid-section: 17A. Base:Light green.

Peduncle.—Aspect: Upright and strong. Length: About 16 cm. Diameter:About 4 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 144A.

Involucral bracts.—Shape: Oblong to linear. Tip: Acute to rounded.Margin: Entire. Texture: Waxy. Color: 144A to 144B.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anthercolor: 9A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium:Present on disc and ray florets.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Dahlia diseases has not beenobserved on plants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named‘Lisa Dark Pink’, as illustrated and described.